Board of Certification for Emergency Nursing

What Board of Certification for Emergency Nursing does

Board of Certification for Emergency Nursing (BCEN), founded in 1980 and headquartered in Oak Brook, Illinois, is a private nonprofit professional certification organization that develops, delivers, and maintains specialty nursing certifications across the emergency care continuum. BCEN operates six ABSNC-accredited and Magnet-accepted certification programs: Certified Emergency Nurse (CEN), Certified Flight Registered Nurse (CFRN), Certified Transport Registered Nurse (CTRN), Certified Pediatric Emergency Nurse (CPEN), Trauma Certified Registered Nurse (TCRN), and Certified Burn Registered Nurse (CBRN). The organization has certified nearly 55,000 registered nurses holding more than 65,000 credentials cumulatively, with international reach extending to 16 countries through the TCRN program.

BCEN's core product surface consists of standardized certification exams administered via PSI testing centers and Live Remote Proctoring, supported by BCEN Learn (an all-in-one continuing education platform featuring interactive courses, review courses, practice exams, webinars, and a centralized CE tracker), BCEN Recertification services (exam or CE attestation on a four-year cycle), the BCEN Voucher Program (tiered volume discounts for hospitals and education departments), Digital Badging delivered through Credly, and Test Assurance bundles covering a second exam attempt. The organization also operates community programs including annual Distinguished Awards, the National Certification Champion Award, BCEN Learn Live conference, and over $1.5 million in scholarship funding since 2012 through partnerships with ENA, ASTNA, STN, ABA, and FNSNA.

BCEN monetizes through per-exam certification fees ($380 standard, $285 for members of partner associations), $280 recertification fees, individual CE course purchases ($20-$250 range), enterprise B2B voucher sales at up to ~50% volume discount, and paid conference registrations. GTM is primarily direct-to-consumer via bcen.org with a self-serve applicant experience, augmented by an enterprise field-sales motion through the Voucher Program staffed by an Employer Relationships Manager. The organization is lean, with 1-10 employees, and operates as a self-sustaining nonprofit with no disclosed parent company, funding rounds, or external ownership.

Name

Board of Certification for Emergency Nursing

Legal name

Board of Certification for Emergency Nursing

Website

https://bcen.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1980

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

BCEN is a nonprofit founded in 1980 that develops and delivers six ABSNC-accredited specialty nursing certifications (CEN, CFRN, CTRN, CPEN, TCRN, CBRN) to nearly 55,000 emergency, trauma, transport, and burn nurses, supported by BCEN Learn CE platform and B2B voucher programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Nursing Certification Services

NAICS

Educational Support Services (61171), Exam Preparation and Tutoring (611691)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Healthcare Clinical Professions (CME/CE for Nurses, Allied Health, Pharmacy) (EDAAALAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Continuing Education (CE/CPD) & Provider Accreditation Bodies (EDADACAF), Healthcare & Clinical Professional Development (CME/CE) (EDAGANAJ)

Keywords

• Nursing certification programs
• Emergency nursing credentials
• Continuing education platform
• Specialty nursing exams
• Healthcare credentialing

Headquarters

HQ city

Oak Brook

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Certification Exam Fees: BCEN charges exam fees for initial certification across all specialty programs. Standard pricing is $380 for non-members, with discounts to $285 for members of affiliated professional organizations (ENA for CEN; ASTNA for CFRN/CTRN; STN for TCRN; ABA for CBRN). Fees can be covered by individual nurses or through the voucher program purchased by employers.
2. Recertification Fees: BCEN charges recertification fees for nurses renewing their credentials every four years. Recertification is available by exam or by CE attestation, with standard pricing at $280 per recertification application when not using voucher discounts.
3. Continuing Education Courses and Products: BCEN Learn generates revenue through sale of CE courses (typically $20-$40 per course), review courses (standard price $250 per 21 CE course), and practice exams (standard price $75 per exam). Volume discounts are available through voucher purchases starting at 3 units.
4. Certification Voucher Program: Bulk certification and recertification voucher sales to hospitals and healthcare organizations at tiered volume discounts, providing potential savings of over 50% per certification compared to standard pricing. Also includes Test Assurance Vouchers bundling a second exam attempt.
5. BCEN Learn Live Conference: Annual in-person professional development and networking conference (e.g., BCEN Learn Live Las Vegas 2026), with conference registration available as a scholarship award or paid purchase.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels12 records

Core offering

BCEN develops, owns, and administers six ABSNC-accredited specialty nursing certification examinations (CEN, CFRN, CPEN, CTRN, TCRN, CBRN) and supporting review materials for emergency, flight, ground transport, pediatric emergency, trauma, and burn nurses. It operates BCEN Learn, a continuing education platform, alongside a recertification program, bulk voucher sales to employers, practice exams, scholarships, and the annual BCEN Learn Live conference.

Product overview

Board of Certification for Emergency Nursing (BCEN) is a certification organization offering a portfolio of six ABSNC-accredited nursing specialty certifications: Certified Emergency Nurse (CEN), Certified Flight Registered Nurse (CFRN), Certified Transport Registered Nurse (CTRN), Certified Pediatric Emergency Nurse (CPEN), Trauma Certified Registered Nurse (TCRN), and Certified Burn Registered Nurse (CBRN). The core certification offerings are supported by BCEN Learn (continuing education platform), BCEN Recertification services, the Voucher Program (volume discount purchasing), Test Assurance (second attempt coverage), Digital Badging via Credly, scholarship programs, review courses, practice exams, and the annual BCEN Learn Live conference. The organization also operates awards programs recognizing individual nurse excellence and organizational commitment to certification.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• BCEN Learn: An all-in-one continuing education platform for nurses working across the emergency and critical care spectrum, offering online courses, free webinars, learning games, virtual conference sessions, and exam preparation.
• BCEN Voucher Program

Products and services

• Certified Emergency Nurse (CEN) ABSNC-accredited specialty certification validating broad clinical judgment for adult and mixed emergency department nursing care. Targets registered nurses working in ED and urgent care settings who want to demonstrate expertise and pursue career advancement.
• Certified Flight Registered Nurse (CFRN) Specialty certification for flight and air transport nurses delivering care in flight during accident scene response, disaster response, and inter-facility transfers. Designed for RNs working in air medical transport and inter-facility transport settings.
• Certified Transport Registered Nurse (CTRN) Specialty certification for critical care ground transport nurses recognizing the skills needed to care for patients in unpredictable environments when air transport is not an option. Validates expertise for ground-based critical care transport roles.
• Certified Pediatric Emergency Nurse (CPEN) Specialty certification for pediatric emergency nurses covering care from neonatal through adolescent patients. Designed for RNs handling pediatric emergencies across every age and stage with clinical expertise and confidence.
• Trauma Certified Registered Nurse (TCRN) Specialty certification for trauma nurses spanning injury prevention education, prehospital care, acute care, rehabilitation, and reintegration. Validates mastery across the full trauma care continuum for RNs in trauma roles.
• Certified Burn Registered Nurse (CBRN) Specialty certification validating advanced knowledge and expertise in burn care across initial management, critical and acute care, patient and family support, and recovery and rehabilitation. Targets RNs in burn care roles.
• BCEN Learn Online continuing education platform offering interactive virtual courses, learning games, webinars, review courses, practice exams, and certification-aligned education accredited by the California State Board of Nursing. Includes a CE Tracker for centralized credit management.
• BCEN Recertification Four-year credential renewal program allowing nurses to maintain their BCEN certifications through either CE attestation (100 contact hours) or by retaking the certification exam. Provides clear recertification requirements and step-by-step guidance.
• BCEN Voucher Program Volume discount purchasing program for certification exams, recertification, review courses, practice exams, and Test Assurance bundles. Available to hospitals, healthcare organizations, and individuals purchasing in groups of three or more, with tiered pricing and an online BCEN Account dashboard for tracking.
• Test Assurance Optional bundled offering that includes a second exam attempt at no additional cost if the initial certification attempt is unsuccessful, available with Voucher Program purchases.
• BCEN Review Courses Official online exam preparation courses for CEN, CPEN, and TCRN certifications. Each course awards 21 continuing education credits upon completion and is created by the same organization that designs the certification exams.
• Practice Exams Timed, non-timed, and Quick 10 format exam simulations with diagnostic feedback, immediate answer explanations, and rationale for each question. Each practice exam awards 3 CEs upon completion.
• BCEN Learn Live Conference Annual in-person professional development and networking conference offering CE credits, pre-conference sessions, and on-demand virtual summit recordings for those unable to attend.

Quantifiable outcome

• Nearly 55,000 registered nurses hold BCEN certifications totaling more than 65,000 credentials
• +8 more outcomes

Named customers13 records

Segments8 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Air & Surface Transport Nurses Association (ASTNA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBCEN collaborated with ASTNA to develop the Certified Transport Registered Nurse (CTRN) certification, officially introduced on March 31, 2006. ASTNA members receive a $95 discount on CFRN and CTRN exam fees ($285 vs $380). ASTNA also partners with BCEN on nursing scholarships and the ASTNA bereavement fund receives $10,000 annual donations from BCEN.
• Emergency Nurses Association (ENA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerENA members receive a $95 discount on CEN and CPEN exam fees ($285 vs $380). BCEN and ENA collaborate on nursing scholarships, with BCEN donating $40,000 annually to the ENA Foundation Scholarship program supporting doctoral and master's degree nursing students.
• Society of Trauma Nurses (STN)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSTN members receive a $95 discount on TCRN exam fees ($285 vs $380). BCEN and STN collaborate on nursing scholarships, with BCEN donating $35,000 annually to the STN Scholarship program supporting undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral nursing students.
• American Burn Association (ABA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerABA members receive a $95 discount on CBRN exam fees ($285 vs $380). BCEN and ABA collaborate on nursing scholarships, with BCEN donating to the ABA scholarship program supporting nursing students pursuing burn care specialties.
• Foundation of the National Student Nurses' Association (FNSNA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBCEN funds approximately 60 academic nursing scholarships annually through FNSNA, with applications opening in September each year. FNSNA applications from BCEN-supporting scholarships open earlier than most partner organizations, demonstrating a long-term pipeline investment in future emergency nurses.
• CredlycoreTechnology or IntegrationBCEN provides digital badges to all credential holders through Credly's platform. Nurses retrieve their digital badges via Credly, which sends an email with a link to claim the badge. Badges can be shared on LinkedIn, resumes, and email signatures, with embedded verification data including credential status, issue dates, and expiration dates.
• PSI ExamscoreTechnology or IntegrationPSI Exams administers BCEN certification exams at testing centers nationwide and through Live Remote Proctoring (LRP) online. Candidates can schedule exams through PSI Exams and take exams either in-person at a PSI test center or remotely online with proctoring.
• Accreditation Board for Specialty Nursing Certification (ABSNC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAll six BCEN certification programs (CEN, CFRN, CPEN, CTRN, TCRN, CBRN) are accredited by ABSNC. The CTRN program received ABSNC national accreditation in August 2023. ABSNC accreditation ensures BCEN certifications meet the highest standards for specialty nursing certification.
• Magnet Recognition ProgramcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAll BCEN certifications are accepted by the Magnet Recognition Program, which recognizes healthcare organizations for nursing excellence. This makes BCEN certifications particularly valuable for hospitals seeking Magnet designation.
• California State Board of NursingcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBCEN Learn courses are accredited by the California State Board of Nursing. Contact hours earned through BCEN Learn count toward BCEN recertification and most state license renewals.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Competency & Credentialing Institute (CCI): CCI issues CNOR, CSSM, and other perioperative nursing certifications on the same ABSNC-accredited, Magnet-accepted specialty nursing certification model that BCEN uses for emergency nursing specialties.
• National Certification Corporation (NCC): NCC certifies women's health, obstetric, neonatal, and related nursing specialties (RNC, NNP) using the same specialty-nursing credentialing infrastructure, recertification cycle, and CE-driven business model that underpins BCEN's six emergency-focused credentials.
• Pediatric Nursing Certification Board (PNCB): PNCB certifies pediatric nurses (CPN, CPNP) using the same accreditation and Magnet-aligned model as BCEN. It is the most direct peer for pediatric-focused nursing credentials and shares BCEN's CPEN population in the pediatric emergency nursing community.
• American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC): ANCC is the largest US nursing certification body, offering Magnet-aligned specialty credentials across numerous practice areas. Like BCEN, it provides ABSNC-accredited, Magnet-accepted certifications tied to continuing education and recertification cycles.
• American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN): AACN Certification Corporation issues the CCRN, PCCN, and other critical-care nursing credentials - the closest specialty-credential analog to BCEN's CEN/CFRN/CTRN portfolio, serving the same hospital-based critical care nurse population with ABSNC-accredited credentials.
• Hospice and Palliative Credentialing Center (HPCC): HPCC issues CHPN, CHPPN, and ACHPN credentials for hospice/palliative nurses using the same ABSNC-accredited specialty certification and recertification framework that BCEN applies to emergency nursing specialties.
• Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nursing Certification Board (WOCNCB): WOCNCB issues CWOCN, CWCN, COCN, and CCCN credentials, following the same multi-credential, specialty-certification body model as BCEN with comparable recertification and continuing-education products.
• Oncology Nursing Certification Corporation (ONCC): ONCC issues OCN, BMTCN, and other oncology nursing credentials, operating the same specialty-certification, recertification, and CE-attached business model as BCEN across a different clinical specialty.
• National Board for Certification of School Nurses (NBCSN): NBCSN issues the NCSN credential for school nurses, operating the same single-specialty credentialing body model as BCEN with recertification, CE, and accreditation-driven Magnet alignment.
• Nephrology Nursing Certification Commission (NNCC): NNCC certifies nephrology nurses (CNN, CDN, CCHT) on the same specialty credentialing body model, partnering with professional associations for member discounts - directly paralleling BCEN's ENA/ASTNA/STN/ABA discount structure.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCVe885v1MqGZmMVO9b1T3eQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/boardofcertificationforemergencynursing
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/board-of-certification-for-emergency-nursing
• Instagraminstagram.com/bcencertifications
• Xx.com/bcencert

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Board of Certification for Emergency Nursing